Elevator safety-clutch.



PATENTED DEC; 13, 1904.

A. WHELAN.

ELEVATOR SAFETY CLUTCH.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN.11. 1904.

N0 MODEL.

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PATB NTED DEC. 13, 1904.

A. WHELAN.

ELEVATOR SAFETY CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11, 1904.

M MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented December 13, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW WHELAN, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO W.H. PITTENGER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.-

ELEVATOR SAFETY-CLUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 777,166, dated December13, 1904.

Application filed January 11, 190A. Serial No. 188,427. (No model.)

To all whom itmwy concern:

Be it known that 1, ANDREW WHELAN. a citizen of the United States,residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State 5 ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElevator Safety- Clutches, of which the following is a specific tion,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, forming partof this I specification, in which Figure 1 is a view in side elevationof an elevator equipped with my improved safety locking apparatus,showing the device out of engagement. Fig. 2 is a partial similar Viewshowing the device in engagement. Fig. 3 is a partial plan view. Fig. 1is an enlarged detail view of the locking mechanism. Fig. 5 is across-seetional view on the line V V of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail viewat right angles to Fig. 5, showing a portion of the rock-shaft and theapron. Fig. 7 is a detail view similar to Fig. 4:, showing adouble-clamp arrangement. Fig. 8 is a similar view showing a modifiedconstruction of latch mechanism.

5 My invention consists of an improvement in mechanism for automaticallyarresting the descent of elevator-cars in case of accidental falling,and is designed to utilize the upward pressure of air to apply thebraking mechan- 3 ism simultaneously with the fall of the ele vator-carwhenever a certain predetermined downward speed is exceeded.

Referring to the drawings, 2 is the elevator-car, suspended by the usualcables and provided with the customary guides within the shaft. Rigidlysecured at the top of the shaft and also preferably at the bottom is acable 3 or any other suitable equivalent of suflieient size and strengthto support the car 4 when gripped by the brake.

1 is a bar of metal secured to the framing of the car underneath andpreferably at one corner'or side, having at its outer end a verticalrecess terminating in a rounded bearing 5, adapted to embrace the cable3.

6 is a bolt having a rounded extremity 7 embracing the cable, theturned-in end of the bolt entering a recess or cavity 8. The long end ofthe bolt 6 passes through bar 4: and is threaded, as at 10, the threadedportion being 5 O engaged by the threaded hub of a pinion 11,

in mesh with a corresponding pinion 12. These pinions are mountedbetween the sides of yoke-frame 13, freely journaled on bolt 6 andprovided with a downwardly-extending arm 14, by which the yoke-frame 13may be tilted upwardly.

15 is a rack secured on the-inner side of the elevator-shaft and solocated that when the yoke-frame is in its normal pendent position, asin Figs. 1 and 4:, the pinion 12 will just clear the teeth of the rackas the elevator-car travels up and down. The bar 4. or any othersuitable supporting-frame is provided with pins or abutments 16 17, bywhich the travel 5 of the yoke-frame is limited in either direction. theweight of the outer pinion normally holding it down and back againststop 16, Fig. 4:. J ournaled in suitable bearings 18, depending from bar1 or from the underfram- 7 ing, is a rock-shaft 19, to which are securedtwo or more arms 20, extending across underneath the ear and preferablyat each side.

21 is an apron, of canvas or other light ma terial, secured to arms '20and of practically the full area of the elevator-shaft, adapted toreceive air-pressure as the ear descends, while the outer extremity ofone or both arms 20 rests upon any suitable support, as a liftingarm 22,having a hook 23 at its lower end or 30 slotted, as preferred. Thissupport is normally sufliciently far below the bottom of the car topermit of considerable upward travel of the apron, due to air-pressurein case of rapid dropping of the ear, or the apron may 5 be lifted bythe lever if it is desired to operate the device from the inside.

Secured to rock-shaft 19 or to one of arms 20 is an upwardly-extendingtilting arm 24:, adapted to throw the arm 14: forwardly and 9 tilt thegear-yoke 13. When this is done, pinion 12 is thrown into mesh with rack15 as the elevator descends, coming into limiting contact with abutment17. Rotary motion is instantly communicated to pinion 11, which feedsthe threaded bolt 6 inwardly and draws its clamping extremity againstthe cable 2 with such force as to create a braking friction, whichsteadily increases until the car is checked.

The yoke 13 is provided at its inner side with a socket 9, into whichthe turned-in end of bolt 6 will enter when the pinion 12 is thrown intoengagement with the rack and the bolt drawn forward by the threadedengagement of pinion 11. When the elevatorcar is reversed after beingstopped, pinion 12 will thus be held into engagement with rack 15 untilthe backward rotation of pinion 11 feeds the bolt back and loosens thegrip on the cable, thus disengaging the turned-in extremity of bolt 6from socket 9, allowing yoke 13 to drop.

In Fig. 7 have shown an arrangement wherein a supplemental bolt 6 isprovided, having a pinion 11 in mesh with pinion 11, the constructionotherwise being the same, thus providing a double clamping-brake. Itwill be obvious that three or more clamps may be similarly provided withan intermeshing train of pinions, care being taken that the bolts bethreaded alternately right and left.

In Fig. 8 the yoke 13 is provided with a latch 25, adapted to be engagedby a hook extension 26, secured to rock-shaft 19, while the yoke isprovided with a counterweight 27, adapted to throw the outer pinion 12up into engagement with the rack when the latch is released. If desired,the floor of the elevator may be perforated, so as to facilitate thedraft of air and allow the apron to rise without cushioning behind it.

The operation will be readily understood from the foregoing description.The device is very simple in construction, effective in operation, notliable to get out of order, and will be found. to accomplish the objectsin view in a certain and reliable manner.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. In combination with afixed cable and a fixed actuating device, an elevator-car provided withmeans for engaging the cable and means operated by pneumatic pressuredependent on the speed of travel of the car for making operative contactwith the fixed actuating device, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a fixed supportand a rack, an elevator-carprovided with means for engaging the support and a device adapted toengage the rack, and actuate said means, made operative by a suddenincrease of airpressure, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with a fixed support and a rack, an elevator-carprovided with means for engaging the support and a device adapted toengage the rack, with a wind-pressure apron connected therewith,substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with a fixed cable and a rack, an elevator-carprovided with means for engaging the cable and rack, substantially asset forth.

5. In combination with a fixed cable and a rack, an elevator-carprovided with braking means for engaging the cable, and means forautomatically engaging the rack to actuate said braking means, uponexcessive downward speed, substantially as set forth. I

6. In combination with a fixed cable and a rack, an elevator-carprovided with means for engaging the cable and rack and a wind-pressureapron adapted to throw said means into engagement, substantially as setforth.

7 In combination with a fixed cable and a rack, an elevator-car providedwith a bearingbar, a clamp mounted therein surrounding the cable, and agearing adapted to be thrown into engagement with the rack and to applypressure to the clamp, substantially as set forth.

8. In combination with a fixed cable and a rack, an elevator-carprovided with a bearingbar, a clamp mounted therein surrounding thecable, gearing adapted to be thrown into engagement with the rack and toapply pressure to the clamp, and a Wind-pressure apron adapted to effectsaid engagement, substantially as set forth.

9. An elevator safety-lock consisting of a fixed cable and a rack, aclamping-bar, a clamp mounted therein provided with a threadedextremity, a threaded pinion, a tilting yoke carrying a rack-pinion inengagement therewith, and a pivoted wind-pressure apron adapted to tiltthe yoke and throw the gearing into engagement with the rack,substantially as set forth.

10. An elevator safety-lock consisting of a fixed cable and rack, aclamping-bar, a clamp mounted therein provided with a threadedextremity, a threaded pinion, a tilting yoke carrying a rack-pinion inengagement therewith and a pivoted wind-pressure'apron adapted to tiltthe yoke and throw the. gearing into engagement with the rack, with alimiting-support for the apron, substantially as set forth.

11. An elevator safety-lock consisting of a fixed cable and rack, aclamping-bar, a clamp mounted therein provided with a threadedextremity, a threaded pinion, a tilting yoke carrying a rack-pinion inengagement therewith, and a pivoted wind-pressure apron adapted to tiltthe yoke and throw the gearing into engagement with the rack, with alifting-arm adapted to support the apron, substantially as set forth.

12. An elevator safety-lock consisting of a fixed cable and rack, aclamping-bar, a clamp mounted therein provided with a threadedextrernity, a threaded pinion, a tilting yoke 6&1:- rying a rack-pinionin engagement therewith, and provided with a locking-socket adapted tobe engaged by the clamp-terminal and a pivoted Wind-pressure apronadapted to tilt the yoke and throw the gearing into engagement with therack, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ANDREW WHELAN.

Witnesses:

JAS. J. MOAFEE, C. M. CLARKE.

